Apprentice tax issue raised in Parliament

The financial implications of the forthcoming Apprenticeship Levy on small businesses was raised in Parliament by a Fylde coast MP.

South Shore MP Gordon Marsden, shadow minister for education, wrote to the Government to ask if consideration had been given to small firms.

Employers with a pay bill of less than £3m will not have to pay the levy

MP Nicholas Boles

He asked the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills : “What assessment he has made of the potential financial implications for small businesses with 100 employees or fewer of the Apprenticeship Levy.”

The response from MP Nicholas Boles, Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, read: “Employers with a pay bill of less than £3m will not have to pay the levy.

“This is more than 98 per cent of all employers.

“Small employers will continue to have access to government funding to support apprenticeships.

“Until the levy comes in, the apprenticeships scheme will continue to operate as it does now.